In this class, most of these students struggle academically. There are a few who work hard but just need a little extra help and there are a few who have no problem with this material, they just aren't motivated to take anything more difficult. In the block scheduling, my cooperating teacher usually stands at the front and presents the powerpoint for the first half of class and then passes out an activity paper for the second half. As he stands front and center and interacts with the outspoken students in the front row, he frequently attempts to draw answers from those who are sleeping in the back and those who are texting/eating to the far sides.
When it is my turn to teach, I will probably walk about the room more as I talk. The biggest limiting factor for this is that his smart-board does not have a remote and he has to walk back behind the front lab bench to hit the arrow to advance to the next slide.
I notice that one boy who sits in the corner struggles and gives up easily but he genuinely wants to contribute and help. When I said I was having trouble avoiding traffic on my way to school, he was so eager to find me a better route. He tries to answer questions but when he struggles and gets embarrassed, he shuts down and says "Nevermind." I get the feeling that his academic success is very different from teacher to teacher.
He is not alone, I found that while many of these kids have a hard time getting motivated to do work, they are in fact motivated by pleasing the teacher. I think that this could really be used to my advantage once student teaching begins.
Empty seats
Sleeping
Empty seats
Have trouble with material but can do work. Distracted by texting
Hard workers
Have trouble with material but can do work. Distracted by texting
Outspoken strugglers, laugh at material/don’t do work.
When it is my turn to teach, I will probably walk about the room more as I talk. The biggest limiting factor for this is that his smart-board does not have a remote and he has to walk back behind the front lab bench to hit the arrow to advance to the next slide.
I notice that one boy who sits in the corner struggles and gives up easily but he genuinely wants to contribute and help. When I said I was having trouble avoiding traffic on my way to school, he was so eager to find me a better route. He tries to answer questions but when he struggles and gets embarrassed, he shuts down and says "Nevermind." I get the feeling that his academic success is very different from teacher to teacher.
He is not alone, I found that while many of these kids have a hard time getting motivated to do work, they are in fact motivated by pleasing the teacher. I think that this could really be used to my advantage once student teaching begins.
Distracted by texting
Distracted by texting